Market research

Malt market in Latin America and the Caribbean

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Latin America and the Caribbean" region includes following countries:

Argentina

Bolivia

Bouvet Island

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

French Guiana

Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Antigua and Barbuda

the Bahamas

Barbados

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Haiti

Jamaica

Martinique

Montserrat

Curacao

Aruba

Saint Maarten (Dutch part)

Bonaire

Puerto Rico

Saint-Barthélemy

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Anguilla

Saint Lucia

Saint-Martin (French Part)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caicos Islands

United States Virgin Islands

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2019, the malt market in Latin America and the Caribbean remained stable at around 4.2 million tons. This stability was underpinned by the rapid growth of craft breweries in Brazil, which expanded at an annual rate of 30%, steadily increasing demand for malt. The market contracted to 3.9 million tons in 2020 due to supply chain disruptions and reduced demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A strong recovery followed in 2021, with market volume jumping to 4.8 million tons as pandemic restrictions eased and consumer interest in specialty malts for craft beer intensified. Growth continued in the following years, supported by significant investments in domestic malt production capacity in Brazil. New malting plants in Paraná state came online, helping the market reach 5.2 million tons by 2023 despite global cost pressures from the Russia-Ukraine war on barley prices.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Latin America and the Caribbean
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production malt in Latin America and the Caribbean

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of malt, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of malt, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

After two consecutive years of decline, malt production in Latin America and the Caribbean rebounded in 2020. The region produced 3 616 K t of malt that year, marking a 16.6% increase from 2019. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 14.8%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 4.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 3 102 K t, when output fell by 1.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.1%)	(1.5%)	16.6%	4.7%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Malt production in Latin America and the Caribbean has now increased for three years in a row. In 2020, the value of malt output reached 1 891 M $ US, up 12.0% from the previous year. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, production value rose by 15.5%, averaging an annual growth rate of 4.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.8%	2.3%	12.0%	4.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports malt from Latin America and the Caribbean

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, malt exports from Latin America and the Caribbean totaled 856 K t, representing a significant decline of 11.9% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 3.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.1%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 818 K t, while the peak occurred in 2019 with 972 K t, when exports surged by 18.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.5%)	18.8%	(11.9%)	(1.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Free Zones consistently served as the primary destination for malt exports from Latin America and the Caribbean, accounting for 9.8% of total export volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of malt exports from Latin America and the Caribbean stood at 448 M $ US, down 15.4% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 timeframe, export value fell by 2.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -0.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 429 M $ US, while the highest was in 2019 at 529 M $ US, when export value jumped by 23.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.7%)	23.4%	(15.4%)	(0.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Free Zones were the largest buyers of malt from Latin America and the Caribbean in value terms, representing 10.5% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports malt to Latin America and the Caribbean

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, malt imports into Latin America and the Caribbean reached 1 158 K t, reflecting a sharp drop of 44.8% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 42.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -17.0%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 2 098 K t, when imports increased by 10.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.1%)	10.5%	(44.8%)	(17.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

The import structure for malt in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2017 to 2020 shows a diverse range of trading partners. The United States (20.9% of import volume), Belgium (7.6%), and Canada (5.3%) together accounted for just 33.8% of total imports, while the remaining 66.2% was spread across numerous smaller markets.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of malt imports into Latin America and the Caribbean amounted to 1 022 M $ US, showing a substantial decrease of 11.3% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value fell by 2.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -0.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 018 M $ US, while the peak was in 2019 at 1 152 M $ US, when import value rose by 13.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.9%)	13.1%	(11.3%)	(0.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the import market for malt in Latin America and the Caribbean was highly diversified. The United States (20.2% of import value), Belgium (6.8%), and Canada (5.2%) combined for only 32.2% of total imports, with the remaining 67.8% coming from a wide array of other countries.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io